Provision of a functioning road system is supposed to be one of the basic, core competencies of a functioning state. Its seems blatantly unreasonable that motorists are being asked to pay road tax and the local property tax, which is supposed to be going towards paying for local services, and are getting little or no maintenance work on their local roads.

The Cooletegart road just outside Taghmon is a prime example of the poor condition of rural roads across the New Ross district. Local residents and businesses are being forced to go miles out of their way to avoid a pockmarked road.

Sinn Féin is calling on the County Council to provide for adequate repairs to be made to all roads in this state across this district. Where necessary, we want to see roads resurfaced. The excuse that funding is not available is unacceptable. Where have our taxes gone? Into Anglo and the pockets of wealthy bondholders? It’s time to get real and provide us with the basic services which we have already been double taxed for.